Without repeal or changes, the standard will result in New York becoming less competitive and having less reliable power, all while doing little to impact global greenhouse gas emissions.
All New York residents should prepare for yet another cost increase, this time in the form of rising energy bills.
Ratepayers can point to the newly adopted Clean Energy Standard as the reason for what is essentially a new tax to fund renewable energy.
New York residents already pay some of the highest energy costs in the country, and the Clean Energy Standard is expected to add $3.4 billion to utility bills over the next five years.
High costs are not the only reason residents should be concerned. The Public Service Commission (PSC)—a four-member board appointed by the Governor—adopted the policy without any input from the legislature or public until after it already had voted. With little more than a sketchy plan to accomplish the lofty goal of reducing greenhouse gases, the board put in place a far-reaching mandate that may not even be possible given the state’s inadequate electric transmission system.
These shortcomings and others are detailed in a recently-released report by the Empire Center entitled “Green Overload: New York State’s Ratepayer Zapping Energy Mandate” http://www.empirecenter.org/publications/green-overload/.
The report raises important questions that should have been addressed when adopting such a broad energy strategy that drives up the cost of living and doing business.
Without repeal or changes, the standard will result in New York becoming less competitive and having less reliable power, all while doing little to impact global greenhouse gas emissions.
In the coming months, NFIB/NY will unveil its legislative agenda for the 2017-2018 session, and reducing energy costs have long been a priority for the organization. We will again remind lawmakers that affordable energy rates are critical to a thriving economy and will push for a comprehensive review of energy policies.
If you have suggestions for other legislative or regulatory changes that would improve the business climate, please feel free to email me at [email protected].
Mike Durant
State Director
NFIB/New York
